The automotive world is abuzz with the news that one of the most exquisite examples of French Art Deco design, the 1937 Delage D8-120 S Aerodynamic Coupe, will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s at the Monterey Conference Center from August 13 through 15, 2026. This streamlined beauty, crafted by Parisian coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout, is not just any car—it’s a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best of Show winner, a title it earned in 2005.
Only 74 cars have ever received this prestigious award since the concours began in 1950, making this Delage a true rarity. The car is part of the Sam and Emily Mann Collection, a meticulously curated assemblage of rare prewar, coachbuilt cars that the New Jersey-based couple has spent over four decades compiling. Now, they have decided to sell, offering enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of automotive history.
The Delage D8-120 S Aerodynamic Coupe: A Prototype of Excellence
The Delage D8-120 S Aerodynamic Coupe on offer is a prototype of the French builder’s D8-120 S model, a more athletic version of the D8-120. It features a 4.75-liter straight-eight engine a lowered suspension, reduced weight, and larger brakes. However, it was the vehicle’s handcrafted, custom aluminum-and-steel body that truly set it apart. Designed by the young French designer Georges Paulin, an early pioneer of wind tunnel testing for aerodynamics, the long-tailed coupe was a sensation when it debuted.
According to RM Sotheby’s research team, Louis Delâge, the founder of the eponymous marque, had planned to showcase the car at the 1937 Paris Salon. However, by the time the car was finished, applications had closed. Undeterred, Delâge and Pourtout drove the car to the Grand Palais venue and parked it outside the entrance for all to behold. The car would go on to serve as Louis Delâge’s daily driver.
A Journey Through Time and Restoration
Fast forward to 1953, and the Delage was involved in a minor accident, leading to repairs by the famed coachbuilder Saoutchik. The modifications included a blunter, more upright nose, a flat windshield, and a single-piece rear window, altering the original Pourtout styling. The car was later acquired by William A. Raidy, a newspaper magnate who drove it during his visits to France before shipping it back to the United States. It then passed to New York-based experimental filmmaker William Maas and later to East Coast collector Alfredo Brener.
Sam Mann, a well-known New Jersey-based collector, had pursued the car for nearly a decade before finally acquiring it. Recognizing the need for a complete restoration, Mann sent the car to Stone Barn, a top classic-car restoration house in Vienna, N.J. The restoration process took over two and a half years and involved reversing the Saoutchik modifications, returning the car to its original curved windshield and twin rear-window design using original photographs and input from the Pourtout archives.
The Ultimate Accolade and Future Prospects
After its restoration, the Delage made a triumphant return to the spotlight, winning Best of Show at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It also took home the Best of the Best award at the inaugural Louis Vuitton Classic in New York City the same year. For Sam Mann, this Delage has always been his favorite, stating, “It is the cream of everything we have ever owned, and the purest example of the automobile as art.”
Harvey Stanley, director of private sales for RM Sotheby’s, highlights the car’s significance, noting that its Pebble Beach win adds immeasurably to its provenance. “One thousand percent. It is the ultimate accolade for a car,” he says. Stanley predicts that the car could attract a younger buyer than the market might expect, reflecting a resurgence in interest for prewar cars that are special. He also expects this Delage to garner more awards in the future, providing a ticket not just to events like Pebble Beach and Villa d’Este, but to win them.
The price of this ultrarare piece of French coachbuilding is expected to range from $5 million to $6 million a testament to its historical significance and exquisite craftsmanship. As the Delage D8-120 S Aerodynamic Coupe prepares to cross the auction block, it stands as a symbol of automotive artistry and a testament to the enduring allure of classic cars.
